Jonathan Swift and Satire

What is satire? A satire is any piece of writing or graphic media designed to make its readers feel critical – of themselves, of their fellow human beings, and of their society. Satire is usually directed at humanity in general, but can also target a specific group or individual.

During the Restoration period, satirists used editorials in newspapers, sermons, and essays to expose corruption and hypocrisy. Today, satire is commonly employed in political cartoons and television shows.

Writers of the Restoration Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary defined satire as a poem “in which wickedness or folly is censured.” John Dryden claimed that the true end of satire was “the amendment of vices;” and Daniel Defoe thought that it was “reformation.” Jonathan Swift defined satire as “a sort of glass wherein beholders do generally discover everybody’s face but their own, which is the chief reason for that kind of reception it meets in the world, and that so very few are offended with it.” Alexander Pope wrote of satire thus: “O sacred Weapon! Left for Truth’s defense, Sole dread of Folly, Vice, and Insolence!”

Horatian Satire Horace was a Roman poet and satirist during the time of Augustus. Horatian satire is humorous and intended to make us laugh at human foolishness or weakness.

Juvenalian Satire Juvenal was a Roman poet and satirist during the 1st century. Juvenalian satire is harsh and intended to make us angry at human vice and corruption.

Satirists perform an important function in society when they expose errors and absurdities that we no longer notice because custom and familiarity have blinded us to them.

Satirists often use exaggeration, or hyperbole, to make their criticism. They are often accused of being scandalous, irresponsible, and irreligious.

Satirists are dissatisfied with things as they are, and they aim to make things better (in their opinion). However, instead of giving constructive advice, satire usually just emphasizes what is wrong with the world.

Jon Stewart to Jon Swift -Born in Dublin, Ireland of English parents (Anglo-Irish) -Priest in Church of Ireland -Member of the Whig party -Most influential prose writer and satirist in 18th century England -Aim in writing was to make people more decent and humane -Became a defender of the Irish against the oppressive English -Gulliver’s Travels (1726) -A Modest Proposal (1729)

A Modest Proposal (1729) Swift assumes the role of a “practical” economic planner, pretending to be objective, and full of common sense. Swift protests against a purely statistical view of humanity. A Modest Proposal satirizes the desperate conditions in Ireland and criticizes the English policies that kept the people of Ireland poor. Juvenalian satire to criticize attitudes towards the poor and English economic policies. Swift appears monstrous in order to expose the monstrous behavior and viewpoints of others.

How does Jonathan Swift employ satire? -irony: contrast between expectations and reality -verbal irony: contrast between what is said and what is meant -situational irony: contrast between what is expected and what actually happens -sarcasm: mocking, ironic tone -hyperbole: exaggeration, enlarge beyond the literal truth -understatement: creating emphasis by saying less than what is literally true -stereotype: an oversimplified image of a person, group, or institution -logical appeals: an appeal based on logic or reason; evidence, facts, and statistics -emotional appeals: an appeal based on emotions; words that arouse strong feelings -ethical appeals: an appeal based on the character of the speaker; establish the writer as sincere and knowledgeable

England is a jerk-face to Ireland -England conquered Ireland -England colonized Ireland *meaning: England decided to take the Irish people’s land from them and build big castles for their own English aristocracy to live in like “little kings” with Irish people working the land so the English could profit. Sir Edmund Spencer, the Renaissance poet, was a “little king.” -Ultimately, Ireland goes “Braveheart” on their English oppressors (more on that later).